WEST BOYLSTON — The organizers of "the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade" have named the event's grand marshal. And now its time to celebrate — a little early that is.

Selectman and businessman Michael Kittredge Jr. has been named the first grand marshal of what Dr. Michael Casey has dubbed a "community building event," scheduled for noon on March 16.

As marshal, Kittredge will lead the parade from Finder's Pub, around the shared parking lot to Keeper's Pub. The parade will include town officials, the high school band, a fife and drum band, antique cars and fire trucks.

"We have a decent number of people marching," Casey said. "It may be the world's shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, but it's not the smallest."

The parade may be March 16, but the celebration begins Sunday, Feb. 9.

A banquet to honor Kittredge will be held that day at Wachusett Country Club, at 4 p.m. The day will feature a "meal, music and presentations," Casey said.

"Whether there will be dancing depends on when the celebrating begins," Casey said with a laugh.

Kittredge, elected as a selectman last year, is a 54-year resident of West Boylston. Born and raised in Clinton, Kittredge spent four years in the Navy and two years in Boston, attending college, before settling in West Boylston.

"We came here and have been here ever since," he said.

After raising his family, Kittredge and his wife turned their historic home into the Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast. That was in the 1980s, during which Kittredge started to get more and more involved in West Boylston's social and political life.

He co-founded the West Boylston Athletic Association, was president of the West Boylston Business Association and was president of the West Boylston Community Club.

Selectman is far from his first governmental role, too. Kittredge was an appointed member of the Sewer Committee, a sub-committee that examined the town's infrastructure needs, and was elected to the Water District Board of Commissioners.

"It's just nice to be able to give back," Kittredge said last week. "Working two jobs and raising kids didn't leave me a lot of time. So, when I could give back, I really enjoyed it."

For Casey, the parade will not only honor the contributions of a worthy resident, but it gives the town a chance to come together in a community event.

The parade is based on a march he read about that takes place in Ireland. A small, two pub village, holds a similar parade, from the door of one pub to the other, he said.

"Almost everyone in the village takes part in that parade," he said. "So, we are giving the entire town of West Boylston the chance to participate, or to just take the kids down to see the parade. This is going to be a very family friendly event."

Casey said the idea for the parade came to him when he was named "mayor" of the Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade. In total, West Boylston has been represented in Worcester five times.

"I thought, the tiny town of West Boylston has had three grad marshals and two mayors, and we haven't even scratched the surface," Casey said. "There are many, many people worthy of recognition in West Boylston, but their sphere of influence doesn't extend beyond the town borders."

True to his roots, Kittredge is even helping to organize the parade, though he was not involved with the selection process.

"I worked with them for nine months and never had clue," Kittredge said with a laugh. "It was a total surprise."

Casey said the committee had a "plethora of good candidates," but Kittredge "rose to the top as the first-ever grand marshal."

While Kittredge is being feted for his contributions to West Boylston, it is a St. Patrick's Day Parade, so there has to be Irish involved.

Kittredge can trace his ancestry directly back to County Mayo, Ireland, from which his ancestors came to the United States in 1819, eventually settling in Clinton. For more than three decades, Kittredge organized trips to the mother country, Casey said.

"Mike brought a long list of West Boylston people to Ireland over the span of 30 years, " Casey said.

The parade on March 16 is free, and begins at 12 p.m. The banquet to honor the grand marshal is Sunday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. tickets are $25, and can be purchased through any Parade Committee member, Casey said.

"There are 12 of us, but if you don't know a member, it's safe to say you can get tickets at Finder's Pub," Casey said. "Kevin McCormick is always around."